Trial watchers were well awake to the potential of well bred Snitzel filly Marhoona following her two trial victories in Sydney last month and she duly took that form to race day to post a debut win at Canterbury on Friday night.
Trained by Michael Freedman and ridden by Jason Collett, Marhoona enjoyed a cosy run in transit behind the leaders on the fence and was able to angle into clear running when she needed to and was tenacious to the line to win by a long neck in the 1100m maiden.
Marhoona is nominated for the Golden Slipper and will have ample opportunity in coming weeks to target one of the key fillies lead up races that might earn her a shot at world’s richest race for two year-olds.
A homebred for Emirates Park, Marhoona is a half-sister to Group II winner Hilal and stakes-winners Salateen and Trojan Harbour being the fourth winner from five foals to race from Salma, an unraced Encosta de Lago mare from the family of Emirates Park’s flagship Group I winning colt and then Group I sire Al Maher.
This is the Show Dancing branch of the revered Dancing Show (USA) family that has given us countless Group I winners including champion sire Redoute’s Choice.
Salma has not have a foal since Marhoona.
